Depressed need to vent

Hi
I had my mri in feb and it took till last week to get the results which I think was way too long. when my doctor rang to tell me the results which is a herniated disc in the thoratic spine I said where to from here. He said he would refer mr back to the pain clinic. No mention of a spine specialist or anything.
My pain clinic doc dosent get back for another month and a half and is booked up for another month after that.
After reading some of your post here and researcing what I actually had I realised that I needed to see some sort of specialist.
So I went to my doctor on monday and said I wasn't happy with his treatment of my condition and thought he shouldve reffered me onto a specialist. So he said that he would write a letter of refferal.
I rang yesterday and asked for my doctor to ring me back but he didn't
I rang my doctors today and he hasn't even started the letter which makes me mad
I also asked if there was any other form of pain relief I could try and for my doc to ring me back, but of course no phone call.
I haven't even been told what I should and shouldn't be doing in the way of work or daily house chores. I am totally in the dark like they don't care.
It was like you have a prolapsed disc in your thoratic see you latter.
Sorry this is so long I am angry,sore,scared and depressed.
Thanks for listening
Lee

Lee, I'm not sure I can be of much help other the a ear to listen and sympathize, I have problems at all 3 levels but the thoracic is not one to take lightly and is the most uncommon, I have cord comp. at the T7-8 and have been told that I am not operable.
You didn't say what symptoms you have been having, I will say though until you have been seen by a specialist I would be careful as to what you, no lifting of anything heavy and va****** can be one of the worse things for the thoracic spine the list goes on, you have every right to be upset and you need to be seen by a specialist soon and don't be upset but it may take more then one dr before you can find one to help, they're are not a lot of drs that treat the thoracic spine for sure in my area.
I have even sent my film and records out of state to have them reviewed there are a few drs around the country that are great with the thoracic spine and can do non-invasive surgery if the condition is righ, I'd love to give you more info but can't because of the rules of the board. Just do research and if I can be of any help I'd love to even if just someone to vent to.
I know others here have thoracic spine problems and hopefully can be of more help then me.
I don't know where you live that the dr needs to write a letter of referral my dr just picks up the phone and makes me an app. with other drs.
Please let me know what happens.
Good luck,
Linda

Hey there...sorry to hear of your exp with your doc...but you did the right thing by demanding to be treated well and taken seriously. Waiting that long to be seen when you have a back problem can cause more problems down the road. You need to get your options and fast. When in doubt of noone taking you seriously...SCREAM and DEMAND!!! Sometimes the docs are too busy counting their $$$$ and forget who puts those $$$ in their wallets. I take it that you have an HMO and that is why you have to get referrals? Call the doctors office again and demand that he call you back and that its an emergency....it is....you need to be taken seriously. Let him know that what your options are for the moment won't fly and that you need to get to someone fast. If you are in extreme pain I would even suggest going to the ER if you don't hear back from you doc. I wish you the best of luck my friend...but always remember that you know your body better than anyone else...and if its telling you that you can't wait that long....you better listen!
God Bless....lots of hugs and luv being sent from Texas to you!!!

Sorry you have had to go through all of that Lee but keep on pressing the issue. You only have one back and lifes too short to be in pain all the time. Call the drs.office every day if you have to. No one has to walk in your shoes but you. So good luck and I hope you get some answers very soon!

Lee
I sure wish I could say your story was an exception to the norm but for me at least, I wasn't surprised at all by all the waiting, lack of information, being put off, etc. I've thought a great deal about what could be done to improve things for patients. It's as if the medical professionals are clueless as to what level of suffering is going on. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've been put off and made to feel like a 3rd class citizen. I wish I had advice on what to do but I still haven't found the magic formula. All I can say is be a squeaky wheel but not TOO squeaky. You want them to give you what you need but you don't want them to throw you in a pile to be ignored for going too far. Good luck!

Thankyou very much for your replys
Sometimes it's nice to here from people who understand and care.
I live in New Zealand and our medical system works where you dont need health insurance. It is a public health system. Our system is also one of the worst ones in the world.
My symptoms are alot and they started 7 years ago. I started with bad headaches every day and neck pain a bit of tingling in my fingers and toes. They did an mri of my cervical spine which was normal.
As time went on my pain got worse and I have had numbness at times in my lrft arm causing loss of movement. My legs got weaker and sorer and so too my arms neck, back and headaches. Over the last year my body is in pain from head to toe. spasams cramps and electric like shocks in my arms and legs at times. then my bladder decided that it wouldn't release itself at times so I have had to learn how to self cathertise myself. That is just an overview really I have a very large medical file and have been claimed as needing siciatric care instead of medical care.
they finally decided to do an mri as I have had every other test for every disease or condition that you can think of.
The only thing that I can think of that may have caused it to happen was back in 1990 I had a highjump accident knocking myself out for a few minutes.
thanks again for all your replys please feel free to ask anyother questions
lee

Lee, It's so sad to hear all you have gone through and still are, I know I often complain about our health care here but after reading you post and others from ohter countries I know ours is not so bad.
I can only say I care and I do understand where your comming from and wish I could help more.
I will say though that my thoracic cord comp. happened when I fell at work so you are right a high jump may have been the culprit, it was some time before my thoracic problems were found as my lumbar pain was the center of attenton and pain to begin with.
I pray that you are able to find the medical attention you so need and deserve soon, in the meantime here and places like this can offer a great deal of support.
Linda

I know the first time a dr told me I needed to see a physiatrist I went off and told him my pain wasn't in my head, but of course at the time I was out of my head in pain.
So forgive me for explaining here as I know I was confused so to set the record straight: